Link: GAO Decision
Protestor: General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc.
Agency: Department of the Army
Disposition: Protest Denied.
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GAO Digest:
Protest asserting that the agency failed to reasonably evaluate the protester’s technical proposal is denied where the record shows the agency’s evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation.
General Counsel PC Highlight:
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc. protested the award to American Ordnance LLC of a contract for M58A4 Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC). During discussions, General Dynamics was informed that its proposal had a significant weakness under the management plan subfactor, along with a significant weakness and two other weaknesses under the quality plan factor. Although its revised proposal removed several of General Dynamics’s weaknesses, the SSA concluded that American Ordnance’s technical superiority outweighed its price premium.
The GAO found the agency’s evaluation of General Dynamics to be reasonable. It disagreed with General Dynamics that it had adequately addressed the agency’s concerns regarding its subcontractors, noting that General Dynamics failed to provide adequate descriptions of its subcontractor’s essential manufacturing facilities, equipment, and processes. It agreed with the agency that General Dynamics failed to explain what its process would be for the inspection of incoming supplies. The GAO then found that the SSA reasonably considered the firms’ total evaluated prices in her selection decision
Offerors bear the burden of submitting adequately written proposals that address all of the requirements of the RFP. If weaknesses are recognized during the discussion phase, offerors must remember to thoroughly and specifically address each of those weaknesses when revising their proposals.